DPA investigators urge commission to help rescind proposed layoffs

Several investigators with the Department of Police Accountability told the San Francisco Police Commission on June 18 that proposed layoffs would severely reduce the agency’s capacity to investigate police misconduct.

“Without investigators, there would be no DPA,” said Terry Torgerson, a seven-year DPA investigator, during the meeting’s public comment period. Torgerson said the investigative staff has fallen from 17 investigators in 2022 to 11 today and that the proposed layoffs include a senior investigator position and an additional line investigator vacancy.

The DPA’s executive director, Seamus Henderson, told the commission in a later report that the agency has seen a “significant increase” in complaints this year and that the board of supervisors and the mayor’s budget office are currently reevaluating the proposed cuts after DPA’s budget presentation to the supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee.

“Those conversations continue,” Henderson said. She told commissioners she and staff are arguing to avoid layoffs to the investigations unit, and said the notices that went out were notifications of positions at risk rather than finalized separations.

Multiple senior investigators spoke in public comment. Candace Carpenter, a senior investigator with 13 years at DPA, said a permanent senior investigator who began at DPA in 2017 received a layoff notice despite being central to the office’s work. “I stand for the senior investigator who received a layoff notice,” Carpenter said. Steve Ball, a senior investigator with 15 years at DPA, described morale as low and urged the commission to use any influence it has with the mayor and supervisors.

Commissioners pressed Henderson for details about whether the notices would be rescinded if budget negotiations are successful and asked for concrete caseload and timeline impacts. Henderson said she would provide slides and numbers to the commission showing current caseloads, statutory timelines and how staff reductions would affect DPA’s ability to meet legally mandated requirements.

Several public commenters also raised related concerns. An investigator identified as Ellen Dolis described the investigations unit as “disproportionately impacted” and said staffing has already fallen. A mother who identified herself during public comment urged the commission to consider how layoffs would affect unresolved homicide and cold-case investigations involving victims’ families.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the DPA budget during the meeting. Commissioners asked Henderson to provide additional detail in a follow-up report, including specific caseload impacts and a clearer accounting of which positions were unfilled or slated for elimination.

DPA provided a public phone number and webpage during the report for people to contact the agency directly with questions about complaints or the budget.